Glossary of Medical Terms

Thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenia is a disorder in which there are too few platelets and the blood does not clot properly. People who have
thrombocytopenia may bleed a lot from an injury because they have an abnormally low number of platelets.

Some conditions or diseases lead to thrombocytopenia because they destroy a person's platelets or interfere with their production.
Certain medicines may also cause thrombocytopenia. A person who has a low platelet count with no known cause is said to have
idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

Symptoms of thrombocytopenia include:

Easy or excessive bruising.

Pinpoint-sized red spots (petechiae) around the feet and ankles. In more serious cases of thrombocytopenia, the spots are
larger and more widespread (purpura).

Nosebleeds.

Heavy menstrual flow.

Treatment for low platelets starts with finding a cause that can be eliminated, such as changing a drug the person is taking
or treating an infection. Treatment may include platelet injections into a vein, called platelet transfusion; taking medicines
to stop destruction of the platelets; taking medicine that helps the body make more platelets; or surgery to remove the spleen.